NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT is streamlining its free emergency shuttle bus/ferry service and shuttle bus to rail service to improve the trans-Hudson commute for Gladstone Branch customers along the Morris & Essex Lines.

Starting Tuesday, November 20, selected Gladstone Branch stations will be served by two bus routes that will provide service to and from Summit Station, where customers will be able to connect with the following travel options:

Rail service to New York Penn Station via Midtown Direct

Rail service to Hoboken Terminal

Free shuttle bus service to Liberty State Park for free ferry service to Battery Park (Lower Manhattan)

Lakeland bus service to Port Authority Bus Terminal

Free shuttle bus service (“Routes A and B”) will operate to meet Midtown Direct trains and selected Hoboken-bound trains departing Summit on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and returning to Summit for trains departing New York/Hoboken from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

At Summit Station, customers may transfer to another free shuttle bus (“Route C”) that will operate express between Summit and Liberty State Park (LSP), where free ferry service is available between LSP and Battery Park (Lower Manhattan) via Statue Cruise Lines.

The shuttle buses will serve Gladstone Branch stations along two routes (visit njtransit.com for detailed schedules).

The “Route A” shuttle bus to/from Summit Station will board customers from the following locations:

Gladstone – in the parking lot at the station

Peapack – on Main Street at Holland Avenue

Far Hills – at the station building in the parking lot

Millington – on Division Avenue at River Road

Gillette – on Mountain Avenue at the station parking lot entrance

Murray Hill – on Floral Avenue at the station parking lot exit

Note: Standard parking rules and fees are in effect at all rail station parking lots.

The “Route B” shuttle bus to/from Summit Station will board customers from the following locations:

Bernardsville – in the parking lot at the station

Basking Ridge – on North Finely Avenue at Ridge Street

Lyons – on South Finely Avenue at Cross Road

Berkeley Heights – at the station building on Sherman Avenue

New Providence – on Springfield Avenue at Old Springfield Avenue

Note: Standard parking rules and fees are in effect at all rail station parking lots.

Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone, PDA or pager.

Automated service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 895,000 weekday trips on 261 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the second largest transit system in the country with 164 rail stations, 61 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.